Do you accept McCain's apology for giving the thumbs down twice on making...

[QueenServilla]

...MLK's BD a national holiday? In his first year in the U.S. House, McCain voted with the minority and opposed the 1983 law creating the national holiday to honor King, but reversed his decision around 1990 after he says he “learned” more about King’s achievements. As he fought for an Arizona state ballot measure to recognize MLK Day in 1990, McCain successfully pushed former President Reagan to endorse the referendum.

In a February 2000 interview with ABC News, McCain said his initial opposition to a holiday was based on his belief that “it was not necessary to have another federal holiday, that it cost too much money, that other presidents were not recognized.”
Canam: Yes McCain was not the only one, but right now he is the ONLY ONE running for President. No excuse... Do you really think he would have given his half-donkey speech IF he wasnt running for President? NO!
Noel B: Thank you!!!! Superb answer/comment

 

[UnaBlogger]

John McWayne is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Wrong about the war, wrong about MLK, wrong about America.

John McWrong is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Thats Right!!!

 

[Lelani]

No I didn't because he voted for the holiday to never happen, which shows his true feelings if you ask me. Oh yeah, that might have been why he was booed. It still isn't worse than Hillary "trying to sound sympathetic" when she sounded fake and unnatural!

 

[margareth]

Absolutely, and it took courage to go to that crowd on that day to formally apologize.
Sure, a few low class jackasses booed, but McCain had the class to do the right thing.
He's an honorable man.

Don't accuse McCain of "political expediency."
Where was Barack Obama? Indiana? An hour away?
He didn't want to be there and risk being in TV and photos with Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and all those blacks.
He can't be identified with any of them or too closely allied with any civil right issues because it scares "typical white people" as much as Rev. Wright does.

American blacks are voting for Obama 90%+.
They EXPECTED him to be in Memphis.
He was a NO-SHOW for POLITICAL REASONS.
When else will he fail them and us for political reasons?

Remember that Obama has a RECORD of voting "PRESENT" or being absent for controversial votes.
This is a man we can't count on to do the right thing.

We need a man with courage like McCain - even if we don't always agree.

 

[2bee]

I did at first, then it was make know that he tried to rescind MLK national holiday after it became holiday. That to me, shows that McCain is nothing more then a Rep racist.

The February 2000 interview was because he was running for president, but if you ask me it's like saying it's OK to have homeless vets because they are drug addicts.

 

[DaBears]

yes,and it won't be a big issues most blacks were not voting for him,so no big deal.edit thats very true canam

 

[audiman86]

Its not that big of a deal there are other people just as important to America that don't have holidays and if im not mistaken i think McCain was a POW when King did his most important work so he did not know of its importance. I know Obama supporters want to say it is because he is a racist terrible man or something but i know that is not the truth.

 

[candlewicke v1.02]

It was politically expedient. He could have done this 5 years ago, if it were true. Why now while's he running for president?

 

[gastonh]

Old man MC is a racist and that wouldn't work for his beliefs.

 

[FlylBoi]

McCain represents an age when it was acceptable to be racist. Now American is in a new era. We don't need a President who disrespects one of the worlds greatest humanitarian or one who calls Asians racist names.

 

[SUCKITUPDEVILDOGtt]

He shouldn't have apologized. No other American has a paid day off dedicated to them. Key word here is PAID, millions.

 

[[email protected]]

No, and he shouldn't have made the apology in the first place - jeez, it makes him look like a Democrat, pandering to whichever constituency has to have its little head petted today.

 

[canam]

Hes not the only elected official who gave it the thumbs down. Do you want them all removed from office? If it wasnt for the election you would not give it a thought.

 

[Anarchist]

Yes I accept his apology.
And I think we should have "Siting Bull" b-day recognized as a national holiday, it's his native land......

 

[KellieD]

I don't think he should apologize ... I think he had every right to vote against another federal holiday and one for an individual. We can't give holidays to everyone who does something great in this country or when would people work.

 

[BozoC]

Should gets 2 thumbs up.

 

[sage]

Yes. I grew up in Arizona, and I remember when this was up for debate. The general concensus among the Arizonans that lived here at the time, (and please remember we've grown a lot since) was that the populace did not want to pay for another federal/state holiday, which would mean paying the salaries of thousands of state and federal employees, so they could have another day off. It was never about what holiday was on the chopping block. It was purely an economic decision designed to balance the budget. It was never a question of racism. McCain was representing the majority of the populace's wishes back in Arizona.
Later when Arizonan's and McCain were branded as racists, it came as a surprise. No one that I know had even considered it that way. After all we weren't trying to do away with the holiday, we just didn't want to pay govenmental officials for another day to sit on their tushes. I thought they should have taken out Columbus day instead, but as far as I know we were never given a choice on which holiday.

So yeah, I forgive McCain. I don't think he did anything wrong. He represented the populace that elected him. To some degree you have to put some of the blame at our feet too. He is a great Senator. He has represented Arizona well.